There was a report in this mornings Diario de Ibiza about the ending of Ibiza Rocks gigs. They stated that “Manumission have announced that thay have ended the Ibiza Rocks gigs and that the last gig was supposed to have been Dirty Pretty Things on Tuesday so the Arctic Monkeys which was to take place on the 1st September won’t happen.”

The Diario also said that the Dirty Pretty Things gig on Tuesday night was cancelled – since we were actually at that gig alarms bells started to ring and so a call was made to Manumissions office to clarify what was going on. Manumission tell us that this is not the case – so perhaps it’s wishful thinking by the authorities, but then again, they’ve been perfectly happy with live gigs at Bar M for the last two years?

One wonders why after quite a bit of good coverage by the Diario of the Ibiza Rocks gigs so far they would go this route. In hindsight an article over last weekend probably hinted at their direction when they said that the DPT gig would be at Bar M and the final gig would be the Arctic Monkeys on the 1st of Sep – both facts they (alledgedly) knew weren’t true. A conspiracy theorist would have a field day – manumission move to amnesia – ibiza rocks gets shut down…

Strange goings-on and mysterious influences at work, but we have it from the head honcho’s mouth that all gigs will go ahead as planned – you’ll just have to get to Bar M for 7 pm and catch a coach for your mystery tour…
For the Kaiser Chiefs, Arctic Monkeys and The Fratellis, we wouldn’t miss it, how about you?

A clue to the future, certainly for the west of the island, was given in a recent interview with the Diario de Ibiza by the newly appointed Councillor for the Interior and Tourism of Sant Antoni, Josep Ramon Serra. Previously in charge of “Maintenance and Cleaning” for the town, he confirmed that his spare time was spent cultivating his fields and following ancient Ibicenco traditions.

He summarized the early days of his new responsibility by congratulating his legal department on having closed four entertainment establishments and sealing the musical equipment at five more. He went on to point out that their flouting of license restrictions was unfair on those other businesses around them who were obediently obeying their own license restrictions.

Admirable sentiments one would have to agree, but with a serious clampdown going on in Sant Antoni and a rush for the door to neighbouring municipalities by major players in the attraction of tourists to the island, one can only hope that our man in charge is fully acquainted with all of the potential risks involved in changing the Mediterranean party capital of San Antoni too quickly. Closing a west-end bar that does all you can drink for 15 euros is one thing – hampering high end restaurants and venues that don’t attract those very same people is another.

The views of his “friends” and neighbours could rapidly change if the views of the observing outside world are not factored into his decisions.